<p>Drexel being a private school is meaningless. In reality, Pitt is almost private (only ~9% of its budget comes from the state), and technically, it is private because it is independently governed by its private board of trustees. It was fully private until 1966. It is actually a hybrid called “state-related”. In any case, it is meaningless because Pitt is by far better known. And yeah, Pitt is ranked better in US News, but it ranked way ahead of Drexel in almost any other ranking, especially in ones like the Center for Measuring University Performance or any international ranking like Times Higher Education. In any case, US News rankings easily swing 10 spots in a year (Pitt was 56th in 2010), and they constantly are changing its methodology, so it isn’t exactly stable except at the very top. Point is, don’t let (at least a single ranking in one year) make the decision for you. At least look at multiple methodologies, but don’t put too much stock in any of them.</p>
<p>As far as being a Philly sports fans, there are tons of kids from Philly at Pitt. Only 16% of the entire freshman class last year was from Allegheny County. There is probably just as many from Philadelphia (at least counting the surrounding counties). You won’t have any trouble finding camaraderie cheering for the Flyers or Eagles, or especially the Phillies. The amount of Steeler stuff will be obnoxious in the city though. As long as you don’t have a problem cheering for the Pitt football and basketball teams, you should be ok. Pittsburgh isn’t as large as Philly, no, but Oakland is the third highest urban density in the state after downtown Philly and Pittsburgh, and most of that population is college students. Anyway, here’s [a</a> website for you about students living in Pittsburgh](<a href=“http://www.coolpgh.pitt.edu/]a”>http://www.coolpgh.pitt.edu/), it is meant for grad students, but it may be useful as an overview of the city outside of Oakland.</p>
<p>As far as the honors college, you can get into, and take part of Pitt’s honors college even if you aren’t admitted as a incoming freshman. You just have to wait a semester and get permission. It is open membership.</p>
<p>Regarding the zoos, IMO, neither are world class (compared to something like San Diego). Philly’s is tiny (a consequence of its age and having no where to expand). I haven’t been to Pittsburgh since before they built the aquarium there so it has been awhile, but I remember it being larger than Philly’s, but I could be misremembering. Philly had to get rid of its elephant when I lived in Philly and they sent it to Pittsburgh, which may actually be a better zoo from a zoological point of view. I’m not sure. Anyway, the downside of Pittsburgh’s is that it is farther away from Oakland than Philly’s is from University City, although Philly’s Zoo is separated from Drexel by a pretty bad part of the city, but you could theoretically bike there. The upside of Pitt is that the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is right across the street from the Cathedral of Learning, not that that is the same as a zoo, but it could aid in studying animals. You should really consider contacting the Pittsburgh Zoo and asking them what kind of programs they have for students as far as co-ops or internships…they may help shed some light on it, it certainly won’t hurt. Heck, see if they’ll set up an interview. Hit the ground running. It never hurts to be proactive even if you eventually turn it down.</p>
<p>Bottom line though, if you are going to hate your time in Pittsburgh, well then, maybe you shouldn’t go to Pitt. Think about why you would dislike it. Is it just because you hate the Steelers or because you won’t be able to get a good Philly Cheesesteak (the closest thing you’ll get is Uncle Sam’s on Pitt’s campus)? I’m a big advocate of going somewhere you’ll enjoy, and if you really think there are serious roadblocks to enjoying your time in Pittsburgh, you may have your answer. If it is of any consolation, Princeton Review ranked Pitt #8 for Happiest Students and #11 for Best Quality of Life this past year, so something must be good about being there.</p>